Mashreq Qatar, a leading financial institution in the region, has announced Doha-based healthcare specialist Herminia V Mescallado as the latest winner of QR1mn prize money in its popular savings programme, MashreqMillionaire. Mashreq Qatar head retail banking Niranjan Mendonca handed over the cheque at the bank’s Gold Centre at a ceremony attended by Herminia’s family.

THE Kuwait Ministry of Health (MoH) is performing a system-wide restructuring of public health care delivery services as well as raising the standards of public health care in its various government hospitals to be at par with other global medical institutions.

In line with the country’s move of upgrading the public health care systems, some of the public hospitals are undergoing renovation and expansion. Some new hospitals are being constructed, the biggest of which is the Sheikh Jaber Medical City in South Surra named in honour of the late Amir HH Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah. The Sheikh Jaber Medical City will be the largest medical centre in the State of Kuwait which will include four buildings with a total area of 469,370 square metres.

The mood was all festive. Everyone was dazzling and dressed for the momentous occasion. “Sinulog Siyagit ug Kusog! Pit Senyor, Pit Senyor,” the crowd chanted as Filipino Catholics trooped to the Holy Family Cathedral to celebrate the ‘Sinulog’ Festival.

I recall a Sunday afternoon performance by young thespians from Davao City at the regally cavernous Hall of Liberty set at the elevated end of beautiful Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills. It was about the Catholic church’s Padre Diego (Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores) and his young assistant Pedro Calungsod spreading the gospel to the Chamorros in 1672 in the Marianas. Their proselytizing greatly enraged a local headman, which led to their persecution and ultimately death.

The Filipino Educators Federation of Louisiana (FEFL) are elated on the result of Monday’s decision on the federal class action suit filed more than two years ago against recruitment agency Universal Placement International (UPI) and its owner Lourdes “Lulu” Navarro. “This victory is a product of the continued vigilance and unrelenting efforts of teachers who converted their victimization into a struggle for justice,” declared Ingrid Cruz, the FEFL founding president.

Under different circumstances she may have preferred to be somewhere else. However, being the face of the administration in this part, Consul General Hellen Barber-De La Vega had to respond in defense of what admittedly is not among her country’s shining moments — the human rights issue — and at the same time be wary of the sensitivities of her hosts. After all it was a commemoration of a heinous episode of our country’s history where many officials in the government had bloodied hands.

Philippine Ambassador to Washington, D.C. Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. said that individuals and organizations in the US who would like to assist in the relief assistance can send their cash donations to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (www.ndrrmc.gov.ph); the Department of Social Welfare and Development (www.dswd.gov.ph); and the Philippine National Red Cross (www.redcross.org.ph).

In her welcome address during a program marking the November 30 birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio, Consul General Hellen Barber-De La Vega said: “This observance of Bonifacio Day is important because next year we will be commemorating the 150th anniversary of our hero’s birth. I am, therefore, happy to see among us young Filipino-Americans, because this is also a good opportunity for us to educate them, especially those born and raised in the United States, on the significance of the life and works of Andres Bonifacio in the history of the Filipino people.”

Unfortunately that aspect of history has remained murky more than 115 years after Andres Bonifacio was executed at the height of the Filipino rebellion against the oppressive Spanish colonizers. In an audio-visual presentation during that consulate event, Deputy Congen Daniel R. Espiritu brought into focus that very contentious issue surrounding the death of the Philippine hero.

Thus said Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac yesterday as he advised balikmanggagawa or overseas Filipino workers spending the holiday season in the

Philippines to get their overseas employment certificate or exit clearance early and not get caught with the last-minute dash to return to their jobs abroad.

Cacdac said that the POEA, for several weeks now, have been gearing up for the anticipated arrival of thousands of OFWs this December and their subsequent departure after Christmas and New Year’s Day.

“The POEA has been improving its systems and expanding its facilities for the workers’ convenience, but still, we warn our OFWs not to wait for the last day of their vacation to get the exit clearance,” Cacdac said.

Social Media, the rebirth of blogging for Pinoy Expats and OFWs – PEBA 2012

Social Media, the rebirth of blogging for Pinoy Expats and OFWs OFWs clamour for an aginaldo or a Christmas present was realized because of their active presence on the social media particularly on facebook with regards to the issue on Philhealth’s mandatory increase of its members’ contribution. Although it was not the first of the few victories that OFWs has achieved with their online campaign, but for the Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards or PEBA it is an affirmation that they are being heard and listened to by the government. It is also a fitting tribute as PEBA celebrates its 5th Annual International Blog and Photo Award.

Architect Greg Villanueva is an old timer who had vivid memories of what it was like generations ago. Ditto with book author Carlene Sobrino Bonnivier who, like Villanueva, is also a long time habitué of what is now Historic Filipinotown. The two were among community leaders who spearheaded the establishment of the Philippine Heritage Collection at the Echo Park public library in Temple St., Los Angeles.

Lawyer denied from talking to Pinay rape victim
By Maxxy Santiago, ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau
First posted in abs-cbnnews.com

MANILA, Philippines – A prominent Kuwaiti human rights lawyer who volunteered to represent a Filipina rape victim has claimed that the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait prevented them from speaking to the Pinay.

Sheikha Fawzia al-Sabah was dismayed after the embassy did not allow them to talk to “Marissa” (not her real name), the Filipina raped and left for dead by a Kuwait traffic police officer in the desert of South Surra last October 1.

Balik-manggagawa or vacationing overseas Filipino workers now have the option to set an appointment with the POEA for the processing of their exit clearance or overseas employment certificate (OEC), Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac announced yesterday.

ACFIL (Associazione Culturale Filipina Del Piemonte) was honored to join in the celebration of the second anniversary of the opening of Casa Del Quartiere. Since it became our place of aggregation and encounter in our so many activities, we can say that we almost consider it our second home.

This time of year is Filipino American History Month. Expect a number of activities celebrating “425 years of heritage and culture of Filipino Americans and their achievements, contributions, and the historical presence of Filipinos in the United States Filipino.”